Battery Powered 730nm Initiators and Micro Cabs

I am only asking is because I have two small cabs that I flower. I thought about trying an experiment in my Small Cab. I also have a shite load of rechargeable AA's and new ones are cheap too. Enough to be mobile and modular [imho].
Small cab: 3.5 cu ft and 1.5sq. ft.

• 2-3 3w Hyper Red Epistar's from Steve's
• mounted on aluminum [always circulating air inside]
• Although I will have to work out a timer cut-off and I haven't been so ingenious as of yet......

So with money savings and small spaces, I thought this might work. Opinions? Is 6-7watts of Hyper red [730] in 1.5 square feet adequate?

Batteries are a waste of time...imho. Assuming a capacity of 1500 mAh, 3 W lights will kill it in no time.

mc130p said:

Batteries are a waste of time...imho. Assuming a capacity of 1500 mAh, 3 W lights will kill it in no time.

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I was researching and came across flashlights, plenty are powered enough for 6-7w's. [I am not going to use flashlights, just that the circuitry is capable of what I am considering I think....]

This is part that lost me and why posted, how do I calculate mA hours in relation to draw? I need 5-10 minutes?

I've been trying to figure out the necessary circuit to pull off what you want -- in the end, it was easier for me to come up with a programmable relay solution (or just get 2 digital cycle timers). There are some on ebay for $17 or so shipped, I've seen others at grow shops for $30 as well. I found some on Aliexpress that are $10 shipped but will require a 12 or 5V power source. I'm doing a raspberry pi + 8 channel relay I picked up for $10 (I already had the pi, it was $35)

So, here's a calculation for one light: Assuming a total power of 2.1 W per light, since you can't run at 100%. If you're using 12V, then you need 8 AA batteries(1.5V each) in series, and since the same current flows through each battery, you will only get 1500 mAh out of this setup, assuming the same generalized battery as earlier. Since P = IV, then at 2.1W, and 12 V, your current draw will be 0.175A = 175mA. For 1500 mAh, you will get 1500mAh/175mA = 8.5 hours, but in reality it will probably be substantially shorter than this.

If my math or theory is wrong, someone please correct me!!

You are adding the 12v's in and I think, that is where the train gets off the track.

http://www.powerstream.com/battery-capacity-calculations.htm


These are the chips I was referring to by the way, should have posted that:
http://shop.stevesleds.com/EpiLEDs-Hyper-Far-Red-3-Watt-LEDs-EpiFR3W.htm



So if you have 1x AA @ 1.5V and 1500mAh's it should run provide 1500mA's @1.5v's per hour in theory. This won't last an hour probably as it starts to draw down. Take milliAmp-hours and divide by amps to get hours or divide by hour and get amps.

The chips are recommend @ 1.8v's to 2v's @700ma [they say they can handle the Max well, but 500mA is probably more realistic]
1.8-2 volts @ 500mA = .9-1w per chip

4 batteries @ 1.5v in series gives 6v's 1500mA to run 3 chips @ 500ma for 1 hour. Three chips @ 500ma = 1500mA
8 batteries would double that I believe.


So actually I probably need to run 5-7 of these chips to hit my original goal of 6-7watt's total.

I think my biggest problem is just running a timer as I can scrap the batteries and pick up a 15w driver for >$10 and solve my power problem quickly.

Mobile power might have been a pipe dream.....

caretak3r said:

I've been trying to figure out the necessary circuit to pull off what you want -- in the end, it was easier for me to come up with a programmable relay solution (or just get 2 digital cycle timers). There are some on ebay for $17 or so shipped, I've seen others at grow shops for $30 as well. I found some on Aliexpress that are $10 shipped but will require a 12 or 5V power source. I'm doing a raspberry pi + 8 channel relay I picked up for $10 (I already had the pi, it was $35)

Click to expand...

I have been wanting to do a Pi/Arduino setup for about 3 years, the lesson is don't procrastinate or it will turn into three years, lol. Used to read everything I could on setting one up, mainly just to datatlog any sensor I could afford from Sparkfun. I desperately wanted my plants to tweet me when they needed water, I hate tech, but that seems so fawkin cool.....
http://www.botanicalls.com/

Anyhoo....on timers: I found this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-DC-12V-Power-Programmable-Timer-Time-Relay-/370507463810?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5643f73c82
Probably my best best and just use a 10 or 15w driver for the diodes.

I would run the 730 nm all day long also. PFR is jsut to speed flowering up a week.
73onm synergizes with 660nm,more than doubling the photosynthesis for chlorophyll B.
This is called the emmerson effect.
look it up...

Abiqua said:

I have been wanting to do a Pi/Arduino setup for about 3 years, the lesson is don't procrastinate or it will turn into three years, lol. Used to read everything I could on setting one up, mainly just to datatlog any sensor I could afford from Sparkfun. I desperately wanted my plants to tweet me when they needed water, I hate tech, but that seems so fawkin cool.....
http://www.botanicalls.com/

Anyhoo....on timers: I found this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-DC-12V-Power-Programmable-Timer-Time-Relay-/370507463810?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5643f73c82
Probably my best best and just use a 10 or 15w driver for the diodes.

Click to expand...

I'm wanting to test out shorter photoperiods (6 on/12 off, 6 on/10 off, 3 on/9 off) and I need the pfr to allow me to try the shorter 'nights'. This means i need more flexibility than a 24 hr timer can provide.

Why not just buy one of the Inda-Gro op-amp Pontoon boards? That board/battery has the control circuit that at lights out will time down the 730's while charging the battery pack which is capable of running up to 20 watts for that period.

chazbolin said:

Why not just buy one of the Inda-Gro op-amp Pontoon boards? That board/battery has the control circuit that at lights out will time down the 730's while charging the battery pack which is capable of running up to 20 watts for that period.

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price - they want $745. I spent $20 on my own 730nm pontoon, $10 on an 8 channel relay, and $50ish for raspberry pi and all the needed bits.

chazbolin said:

Why not just buy one of the Inda-Gro op-amp Pontoon boards? That board/battery has the control circuit that at lights out will time down the 730's while charging the battery pack which is capable of running up to 20 watts for that period.

Click to expand...

I put the dimensions of the my cabs up top. I highly doubt that the pontoon would fit, it's custom for these sizes!

SCARHOLE said:

I would run the 730 nm all day long also. PFR is jsut to speed flowering up a week.
73onm synergizes with 660nm,more than doubling the photosynthesis for chlorophyll B.
This is called the emmerson effect.
look it up...

Click to expand...

Thanks, I have to some extent, but I am a little unsure, I have seen just a few minutes of time a night with great results. 730nm isn't a spectrum that is out all day, while it might blend with 660nm during twilight, I kind of question 730nm all day and wonder if the plant will even use it without a UV signal 1st?

Thank you for input, guess I have to study up some more!

price - they want $745. I spent $20 on my own 730nm pontoon, $10 on an 8 channel relay, and $50ish for raspberry pi and all the needed bits.

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That's the price for the entire Pontoon. I was suggesting you just buy the op-amp board with battery pack and add your own 730's. For what you described for under $100 in parts, plus whatever time you have into it, it sounds like you already have it covered.

chazbolin said:

That's the price for the entire Pontoon. I was suggesting you just buy the op-amp board with battery pack and add your own 730's. For what you described for under $100 in parts, plus whatever time you have into it, it sounds like you already have it covered.

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ok, now I get it - I didn't realize they would sell the board and battery only. I couldn't find it on the site - do you know what it would cost?

Not sure on the price. I've got a email into them so I'll find out on Monday.

caretak3r said:

I'm wanting to test out shorter photoperiods (6 on/12 off, 6 on/10 off, 3 on/9 off) and I need the pfr to allow me to try the shorter 'nights'. This means i need more flexibility than a 24 hr timer can provide.

Click to expand...

Interesting.Are you trying this with MJ ?Any more details?

^ geraniums???? lol

Thanks for pitching in guys, I really appreciate all the advice. I have been wanting a to do a 730 options thread for a while, maybe we should start?

I have some examples, I can't afford, but look interesting, like 15w Chinese LED bulbs that are all 730!

SCARHOLE said:

Interesting.Are you trying this with MJ ?Any more details?

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still building a little test cab for the experiments. I'll start a thread with details when I'm ready to start.

caretak3r said:

still building a little test cab for the experiments. I'll start a thread with details when I'm ready to start.

Click to expand...

Keep me updated too, please. I am interested in the far red's effect for my veggie growing.